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Dundeel's Militarize Goes to the Head of the Class in Champagne Stakes

The Dundeel colt Militarize won the final two legs of the 2yo Triple Crown after adding Saturday's $600,000 Group 1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick to his ATC Sires' Produce Stakes triumph.


Militarize, Dundeel, WBF Thoroughbreds
Image Courtesy of Steve Hart

It was a clean sweep for trainer Chris Waller after Shinzo started the ball rolling in the Golden Slipper.


With Joao Moreira in the saddle, Militarize overcame a three-wide trip to defeat the brave front-runner Bases Loaded (Deep Field) by one and three-quarter lengths, with Townsend (Dundeel) a further length back in third.


Militarize advances his record to three wins and a third from five starts with earnings of $1,106,400.


Waller said the realization of winning the 2yo Triple Crown was just sinking in.

"As you can tell, it makes me a little bit emotional," he said


"We haven't done anything differently, just looked after this great crop of two-year-olds, and they've looked after us.


"He was in a class of his own, in my opinion. He was three-wide today, didn't have any cover. Joao (Moreira) didn't panic. The most exciting part is we haven't pushed him yet.


"The support we get from owners in general - Arrowfield, Coolmore, Yulong, I'm embarrassed to say it, but we train for all the main studs, and I'm very grateful to be in that position.


"We've worked hard to get there. Making a name as a two-year-old trainer isn't easy because we've used it as our defence to say, 'we look after them so we get these great results later on'. Maybe things are turning a little bit, and we're pretty proud of it, as my team are. They work so hard and continue telling me we've got beautiful horses."


Bred by Jonathan Munz's GSA Bloodstock and raised in New Zealand at Haunui Farm, Militarize carries the colours of China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock and partners, who supplied the quinella with the Deep Field colt Bases Loaded.


A $550,000 purchase for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Trilogy Racing from the Bhima Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Militarize is the second foal and first runner for the Dubawi mare Amerindia (GB).


WBF Thoroughbreds will offer a Dundeel colt ex Stroak at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale this year.


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